Every Two Minutes

This is a poem I just found on the Tikkun site that I think reflects what many of are feeling at this time.
Chenae
From Tikkun Magazine (www.tikkun.org)
Every two minutes in my madness I wonder
Posted Wednesday, January 07 2009 @ 11:19 AM PST

A poem for this moment (and all moments) by Jonathan Klate

Every two minutes in my madness I wonder


Is this the time
to tear off all of my clothes
and run screaming into the desperate streets
raking flesh from bare arms with bloody fingernails
mind aflame
with images of children
sheltered in the trembling arms of
mothers in barren cellars
rocked by explosions
dust drifting off of walls and ceilings
filling nostrils
eyes
and throat
no potable water
no breathable air
nowhere to go
nowhere to go
oh god why
hast thou forsaken me
forsaken them
forsaken us
no
no
no
I must not do this
no
I must remember
the infinite source of peace
of love
within
which animates me
animates us
animates all
deep within
urging the light of compassion into the world
to be this light
to be this hope
to know this
as my own inner nature
as the inner nature of all
to offer it to the world
yes
this is so
yes
the light is there and
yes
but
oh lord
she sits trembling in the cellar still
and
oh god the children
and the house trembles
and the dust falls
and the sky rains fire
and
this in my name
this in our name
and the darkness
that blackens the hearts of the leaders
and blinds the eyes
of the terrified soldiers
the young ones
forgive them lord
for they know not what they do
please
in thy infinite mercy
may their eyes
be opened
their hearts
break open
but only their flesh
is torn
and the scarlet blood flows
into the desert sand
and no
not this
please
this paralyzes me
I must
write a letter
I must
write a poem
I must
embrace my children
my friends
I must
march
I must not
feel helpless
I must
remember that
they draw
their dark power
from the reservoir
of our fear and anger
so
they till the soil
of our inner being
with terror and rage
therein to sow the seeds
of their own power
I must not
offer up the soil of myself
for this
I must
resist the fear
I must
transcend the anger
I must
know them as brothers and sisters
I must
remember
it is the same light
that casts us out
one and all
from the same source
of all
yes
let peace begin with me
yes
I will not contribute my own fear
rage
grief
helplessness
to this scourge
I am
peace
I am
peace
I am
peace
I am
trembling
as the salty tears drain
into the corners
of my mouth
as she sits
in the cellar
in the dust
in the dark
oh mercy
I will take
to the streets
I will march
from here to Gaza
I will climb
into my bed and draw the covers over my head
I will
send another email
send another email
send another email
I will be an inspiration to my friends
I will find strength
courage
optimism
we are building a worldwide peace movement
this is good
no
this is crazy
the walls are falling
I will be
peace
oh
oh
oh
oh
oh



© Jonathan Klate12/30/08

Jonathan Klate lives in Amherst, Massachusetts where he writes frequently about spiritual consciousness, political ideology, and the relationship between the two.

ref: http://files.tikkun.org/current/article.php/20090107111925777